Bulldogs bounce Aycock

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 21, 2006 2:20 PM

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NASHVILLE -- Coming off not-so-good performances in their respective conference tournaments, Charles B. Aycock and Nash Central entered Monday evening's playoff contest with the same agenda -- stick to the game plan.

Each team stayed within in the framework of its offense, but Nash Central benefited from timely shooting and prevailed 57-44 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A Sectional No. 1 matchup. Sharmeka Dickerson pumped in a game-high 26 points for the Bulldogs, who continue play Wednesday evening at Northeastern Coastal champion Bertie.

Aycock concluded the year 16-10.

Nash Central, which earned a share of the NEW Athletic 6 regular-season crown, endured a shocking semifinal-round loss against Rocky Mount. The Golden Falcons, meanwhile, had their feathers clipped by unbeaten and state-ranked Wilson Beddingfield in last Friday's Eastern Carolina Conference final.

"Obviously, we've had some discussions since Thursday and I think the girls cared a whole lot about what happened," said second-year Nash Central coach Terri Cash. "Some losses are good and that's maybe what we needed to get us to refocus on what our goals are.

"The other night we went away from the game plan, but I thought they stuck to the game plan (tonight) and did what got us here ... sharing the ball and everyone getting some touches."

Dickerson successfully converted six field goals in each half for the Bulldogs, who earned their eighth home win of the season. Khaisha Thomas dished out seven of her game-high nine assists with six landing in Dickerson's hands in the second half.

Overall, Nash Central hit 23 field goals compared to 19 for C.B. Aycock.

"They broke and cut (to the basket), and found the open person," said Aycock coach Rick Smith. "They got the ball in the middle real well and it seemed like everything they threw up, fell. We made them work for their shots.

"We didn't give them two shots at the basket very often. This team is probably the most-fundamental team we've played all year."

Nash Central established the inside game behind Dickerson in the opening quarter. She tallied eight of the Bulldogs' first 13 points, and added two more buckets in the second period.

C.B. Aycock, which finished the year 1-4 against NEW 6 opponents, pulled within four points twice in the second quarter. But Janna Oxendine drilled a 3-pointer off a Thomas assist and Jessica Foster converted a steal into a layup. The Bulldogs, within a 30-second span, grabbed a 27-18 lead and held onto that margin at halftime.

The Golden Falcons opened in a man-to-man defense in the third quarter and pressured the ball. The strategy quickly paid dividends for guards Jasmine Dobbin and Jazzmine Lee, who combined for six points and pulled Aycock within 29-24.

"The first three minutes of the third quarter, we held them pretty good," said Smith.

Nash Central, a sectional finalist last season, answered with a 10-5 run. Oxendine hit two wide-open 3-pointers during that stretch and Dickerson scored twice to make it 39-29.

"We kept forgetting about her in the corners and she's a real good shooter," said Smith. "We got a little tired getting back, but we had them beat so many times on the fast break and couldn't put the ball in the net.

"That came back to hurt us."

The Bulldogs led 45-33 advantage after three quarters.

Aycock's three seniors -- Quaneisha Milner, Quita Broadie and Emily Stewart -- played their final game. Milner collected nine points, three assists and three blocked shots. Stewart dominated the boards (13 rebounds) along with Erin Medford and scored seven points.

Broadie played quality minutes when Milner and Dobbin each encountered first-half foul trouble.

"We played a pretty good ball game after that tough game we had Friday night," said Smith. "We weren't near as sluggish as I thought we would be. Dobbin always gives us 110 percent on defense. Emily and Erin stepped it up a little bit on defense tonight."

2006 N.C. High School

Athletic Association Class 3-A

Sectional No. 1

(at Nash Central HS, Nashville)

C.B. Aycock 6 12 15 11 -- 44

Nash Central 13 14 18 12 -- 57

C.B. AYCOCK (16-10)

Jasmine Dobbin 3 0 2-3 8, Quaneisha Milner 3 1 0-0 9, Quita Broadie 0 0 0-0 0, Jazzmine Lee 6 0 1-4 13, Chantel Gaines 2 0 0-0 4, Emily Stewart 3 0 1-5 7, Erin Medford 1 0 1-2 3. TOTALS -- 18 1 5-14 44.

NASH CENTRAL (19-6)

Janna Oxendine 0 3 0-0 9, Jasmine Sessoms 0 1 1-2 4, Jessica Harrison 1 0 0-0 2, Khaisha Thomas 2 0 0-3 4, Jessica Foster 3 0 3-4 9, Sharmeka Dickerson 12 0 2-2 26, Jelissa Ward 1 0 1-2 3. TOTALS -- 19 4 7-13 57.

3-point goals -- C.B. Aycock 1 (Milner), N. Central 4 (Oxendine 3, Sessoms). Turnovers -- C.B. Aycock 21, N. Central 12. Total fouls -- C.B. Aycock 11, N. Central 13. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.